Semi-automatic valves



Dec. 13, 1966 w. A. SOUNDS 392933154 SEMI-AUTOMATIC VALVES 4 Sheets-5fieet 1 Filed April 22, 1960 JNVENTOR.

Filed April 22, 1960 W. A. BOUNEZJE'S SEMI-AUTOMATIC VALVES Fig.5

EEMJSS E- 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Dec. 13, 1966 w. A. BOUNDS 3,291,154

SEMI-AUTOMATIC VALVES Filed April 22, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGHT FIG? IN V EN TOR.

ec. 13, 19% w. A. BOUNDS 2 L SEMI-AUTOMATIC VALVES Filed April 22. 1960 4 ets-Sheet A,

IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent T 3,291,154 SEMI-AUTOMATIC VALVES Wallace A. Bounds, 3726 135th Ave. 813., Bellevue, Wash.

Filed Apr. 22, 1960, Ser. No. 23,960 21 Claims. (Cl. 137624.18)

The invention relates to improvements in semi-automatic valves in which an automatic opening and closing cycle is effected once the cycle is initiated manually.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a relatively long but controllable period of time during which the valve is open before it automatically shuts itself off. Another object is to effect a delayed opening once its automatic cycle has been initiated. A further object is to provide an automatically programmed cycle, after the start of the cycle, in the following sequence: momentary opening (during the starting of the automatic cycle to follow), closure, brief trial opening, closure for the purpose of position adjustment as required, opening for a relatively long pre-set time period and final shut off. This sequence has as its purpose the provision of a convenient device for attachment primarily to a lawn sprinkler.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the preferred details of construction wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one form of the device.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 in FIG. 1 illustrating the components in position immediately after the automatic cycle has been initiated.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the same section during the first appreciable opening period.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of the same section illustrating an alternate construction of the secondary valve and cooperating openings.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view on line 5-5 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view in the same plane as FIGS. 2 and 3 with interior details positioned at the end of the automatic cycle.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view in the same plane illustrating an alternate form of construction of the second valve.

FIG. 8 is a detailed view on line 88 in FIG. 7 showing the bottom of the check valves.

FIG. 9 is a detailed view similar to FIG. 7 showing an alternate construction of the valve seats and valves.

FIG. 10 is a detailed view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating another alternative construction of the secondary valve and its cooperating seat.

FIG. 11 is a vertical section illustrating the interior details of an alternate form of construction wherein the timing chamber is sealed from the remainder of the valve device and contains a viscous fluid.

FIG. 12 is a vertical section of the interior details illustrating an alternative construction which provides a fixed time period cycle.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view on line 1313 in FIG. 12 showing striation markings in the wall of the housing.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary view on line 14-14 in FIG. 12 showing a single larger channel in the side wall of the housing.

The device comprises a main housing or body 1 containing a large chamber 4 which is divided into parts A, B and C. A main fluid inlet passage 2 leads into the portion of the chamber, part A, and a main fluid outlet passage 3 leads from the upper portion of the chamber, part C. A shaft 7 extends axially and centrally Within the chamber and passes axially and centrally through the main valve seat 10, through the throats 11 and 12 and through housing 1. The shaft projects from the housing and a button 16 is joined to the end of the shaft 7 by 3,291,154 Patented Dec. 13, 1966 means of threads 33. A resilient, annular seal 9 and the central portion of movable pressure sealing member 5 form the main valve 38 which is mounted on shaft 7. When the valve 38 is closed the seal 9 seats against main valve seat 10. The movable fluid sealing member 5 divides the lower portion of the large chamber into parts A and B. Check valve means 6 are mounted in movable sealing member 5 and permit fluid to pass from chamber B to chamber A upon the downward travel of movable fluid sealing member 5. Resilient means 28 in the form of a spring serve to urge shaft 7 upward as pressures are equalized above and below movable sealing member 5.

A second valve closing or shut-off mean 8 is mounted on shaft 7 above the seal 9 to close throats 11 and 12 as the valve means 8 passes upward therethrough. A recess 13 is formed between throats 11 and 12 to allow fluid to pass out through the device for a first trial opening. A channel 14 is provided in the wall of the housing to permit entrapped fluid above valve 8 to escape chamber C.

A packing nut 15 secured by means of threads 32 in a suitable recess 45 in body 1 and a seal 59 provide centering for the slidable operation of shaft 7 and prevents the leakage of fluid.

A part of the fluid entering port 26 from inlet 2 passes into a passage, in the form of conduits 25 and 17. From conduit 25 the fluid passes into annular conduit 24; then through filter screen 21 twice, first upward and then downward; into particle settling basin means 19 which serves to entrap very small particles heavier than the fluid which have passed through filter screen 29. This is necessary because the externally operable and calibrated small valve means, in the form of needle valve 18, must be capable of providing a very small orifice which might otherwise become plugged. The needle valve 18 which seats on needle valve seat 36 is inserted and its operation controlled by means of threads 31 and by means of the external knob 21. A pointer 22 is afiixed to the needle valve shaft below the knob. Pointer 22 is adapted to point to calibration markings inscribed on packing nut 23. Packing nut 23 is held in place by threads 35 in a suitable open ing in body 1. The seals 29 are provided on both sides of filter screen 20.

A sealing cap 27 with suitable seal 49 encloses the bottom of chamber 4 and is secured thereto by means of threads 34.

Secondary passage means in the form of short conduits 3tl30 is provided in the wall of the housing and permits the by-passing of fluid from part A to part B of the chamber and this passage 30 serves to accelerate the upward travel of fluid sealing member 5 while valve 8 is in and between throats 11 and 12.

An alternative means of construction for the second valve means is depicted in FIG. 7 wherein valve 8 is replaced by a resistably slidable second valve 37. This valve will slide on shaft 7 as shaft 7 travels upward and the second valve 37 engages the bottom of nut 42. The resistance to sliding on the shaft 7 is great enough to overcome water pressure in throats 11 and 12 but it is not great enough to overcome the force of spring 28 which forces shaft 7 upward. Valve 37 in the downward movement of shaft 7 comes to rest against valve stop means 39 at the bottom of throat 11. Body 44 and seat 50 are 'shown in FIG. 7 as replacing body '1 and seat 10 in figures previously described. A sealing nut 42 is retained in an opening in body 44 by means of threads 43. This construction permits shaft 7 and body 44 to be shorter.

Another alternative construction is shown in FIG. 4 wherein the second valve 51 and seal 52 are substituted for second valve 8 of figures previously described. Valve 51 is fixedly mounted on shaft 7. Throats 53 and 54 are substituted for throats 11 and 12 of previously described figures.

In FIGURE 9 I have illustrated another alternative construction which includes a plurality of secondary valves 46 and 47 mounted in fixed position on shaft 7 and body 1 is modified to have only one throat 48. This construction enables the second valve means arrangement to operate in the same way as the constructions previously described relative to FIGS. 2, 3 and 6.

In FIG. 10 another construction for performing the same operation is illustrated. In this construction I employ a second valve and stop assembly 58 which includes two valves 55 and 56 and slidable valve stop means 57. This plurality of secondary valves is resistably slidable on shaft 7. The slidable arrangement permits the body and shaft to be shorter.

In FIG. 11 I have illustrated another construction wherein a sealed chamber which includes only portions D and D in and a part of the lower portion of large chamber D, contains a relatively viscous fluid 117 which is a hydraulic fluid. In this alternate construction body 1 is replaced by a housing comprising portions 91 and 92. The second valve and stop assembly 58 is resistably and slidably mounted on shaft 93. A movable pressure responsive member 110 divides the lower portion of the sealed chamber into parts D and D The housing portion 92 is connected to the upper portion 91 by threads 119 and a seal 105 is provided therebetween. A conventional fluid sealing means in the form of resilient packing 102 and an O-ring 104 with a metal washer 103 between them is held in place by a nut 115 in a suitable opening in the upper end of the housing portion 92. Nut 115 is provided with driving slot 116. The main valve 99, with resilient sealing washer 100 mounted thereon, is secured to shaft 93 and rests on the main valve seat 94 at the end of the upward stroke of shaft 93. Axially movable shaft 93 is connected to hub 107, a part of movable pressure responsive member 110 by means of threads 106. An externally operable means in the form of a button 16 is aflixed to shaft 93 and is used to depress the shaft 93. At the lower end of shaft 93 is a small valve means in the form of needle valve 109 which is adapted to seat on the seat 120 and to control the rate of flow through by-pass holes 108. Check valve means 6 permit fluid in large amounts to pass from chamber D to D upon the downward travel of member 110. The spring 111 is retained between member 110 and cap 118 and is strong enough to force member 110 upward as fast a fluid enters the chamber D, from chamber D A seal 112 is mounted on the periphery of member 110 between movable pressure responsive member 110 and body portion 92. The cap 118 and seal 113 are mounted on body portion 92 by means of threads 121. The sealing and partitioning member 101 which is a part of body portion 92 seals the hydraulic fluid 117 from water in chamber D The water flows in through a main inlet passage into chamber D and past the main valve seat 94 into chamber D and out through a main fluid outlet. The secondary fluid passage 114, in the side wall of the housing, permits hydraulic fluid to pass from chamber D to chamber D more rapidly than through holes 108 and needle valve seat 120 whereby valves 55 and 56 are made to pass through throat 98 more rapidly than their normal rate of travel once they are past throat 98. The threads between shaft 93 and hub 107 are small and the resistance to rotation of seal 112, about pressure sealing member 110, is sufficiently great so that shaft 93 Will rotate in threads 106 and in hub 107 without rotating member 110 within the desired limits.

A fixed cycle form of construction is illustrated in FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 wherein fluid enters housing body 85 at inlet 87 and exhausts at outlet 88. The shaft 71 has valves 78, 79 and 80 mounted thereon. Shaft 71 is urged upward by spring 61. Cap 69 and seal 60 seal the bottom of housing 85. Externally operable means 76 is connected 4 to shaft 71 by means of threads 84. Shaft 75 forms an integral part of the button 76 assembly and serves to hold the right amount of tension on spring 74 at the lower end of which check valve ball 73 is forced against seat 72. Fluid which flows into the lowermost chamber through passages 8686 or alternate passage means 89 is exhausted through conduit 77, seat 72, check valve 73 and port 90 into the outlet 88. The seals 81 serve to prevent fluid from escaping between shaft 71 and nut 82 which is joined to body 85 by means of threads 83. Seals 70 are mounted around the periphery of valves 78, 79 and 80 to effect fluid sealing as required. and 96 are seals.

To use and operate the semi-automatic valve, the hose connection at outlet 3 or 88 is screwed into the female hose connection of a conventional lawn sprinkler and the garden hose is connected to the inlet end 2 or 87. The opposite end of the hose is connected to a faucet and the water turned on. The valve device is normally closed so that water will not pass through it until after it is started. After placing the sprinkler and attached valve device in the site to be watered, the form of the device with variable time cycles will first have the desired time period set by means of knob 21 using pointer 22 which indicates the calibration markings on nut 23 representing minutes designating the sprinkling time period settings. Button 16 or 76 is fully depressed which initiates the automatic cycle of the valve. While the button is being depressed and neither the main valve nor secondary valves close the throats, water will momentarily pass through the valve device; but since the downward arming stroke is a relatively rapid motion not enough water passes to the sprinkler to develop a spray pattern large enough to wet the person attending. After depression the valve will not open immediately but will delay opening until the person who has started it has had time to depart the vicinity. This results from the presence or absence of one or more of the secondary valves in one or more of the throats as the shaft is forced upward by the spring 28. The programmed time periods are determined by the speed with which the shaft rises which, in turn, is determined by the rate at which fluid is permitted to enter the lower portion of the large chamber. After the delayed opening the valve will open and allow the sprinkler to operate for a brief period so as to check to see if the area desired is being watered. The valve device in its most complete form will again shut off for a period of time suflicient to allow repositioning of the sprinkler. After this it will open and sprinkle for the time period set and then shut off automatically. It would be possible, even though unnecessary, for the person to return to the hydrant and shut it off without damage to the valve device at no matter what point in its cycle. It is also to be noted that a person is not required to travel to the hydrant at the opposite end of the hose until that hydrants hose arc has been completely Watered. The person watering need only travel to and away from the sprinkler to which the valve is attached.

What I claim as new is:

1. A valve of the character described comprising a body, a chamber within said body, a main valve seat adapted to divide said chamber into upper and lower portions, a main fluid inlet passage leading into said lower portion of said chamber, -a main fluid outlet passage leading from said upper portion of said chamber, an axially movable shaft extending axially and centrally within said chamber and axially and centrally through said main valve seat and through and to the outside of said housing body, external means aflixed to said shaft to move said shaft in a downward direction, a main valve mounted on said shaft and positioned to seat on said main valve seat, a movable fluid sealing member mounted on the lower end of said shaft, said movable fluid sealing member providing means to seal the inlet passage from the remainder of said lower portion of said chamber, resilient means interconnected with the shaft to urge said shaft in an upward direction, :a combination check valve and first auxiliary fluid passage adapted to permit the passage of fluid from the lower portion of said chamber upon the downward movement of said fluid sealing member, a second auxiliary fluid passage interconnecting the portions of said lower portion of said chamber above and below said movable fluid sealing member, a throat adjacent said main valve seat, a secondary valve means resistably and slidably mounted on said shaft and movable through said throat incident to the upward movement of said shaft, and a valve stop means for said secondary valve to limit the downward movement of said secondary valve.

2. A valve of the character described comprising a body, a chamber within said body, a main valve seat adapted to divide said chamber into upper and lower portions, a main fluid inlet passage leading into said lower portion of said chamber, a main fluid outlet passage leading from said upper portion of said chamber, an axially movable shaft extending axially and centrally within said chamber and axially and centrally through said main valve seat and through and to the outside of said housing body, external means affixed to said shaft to move said shaft in a downward direction, a main valve mounted on said shaft and positioned to seat on said main valve seat, a movable fluid sealing member mounted on the lower end of said shaft, said movable fluid sealing member providing means to seal the inlet passage from the remainder of said lower portion of said chamber, resilient means interconnected with the shaft to urge said shaft in an upward direction, a combination check valve and first auxiliary fluid passage adapted to permit the passage of fluid from the lower portion of said chamber upon the downward movement of said fluid sealing member, a second auxiliary fluid passage interconnecting the portions of said lower portion of said chamber above and below said movable fluid sealing member, a throat adjacent said main valve seat, a plurality of secondary valves mounted on said shaft in spaced relationship wherein the plurality of secondary valves are resistably slidable on said shaft and including valve stop means for said secondary valves to limit the downward movement of said secondary valves.

3. A valve as in claim 1 including a second throat above said first throat.

4. A valve of the character described comprising a body, a chamber within said body, a main valve seat dividing said chamber into upper and lower portions, a fluid inlet passage leading into the lower portion of said chamber, a fluid outlet passage leading from the upper portion of said chamber, a movable shaft extending axially and centrally within said chamber and axially and centrally through said main valve seat and to the outside of said body, external means affixed to said shaft to move said shaft in a downward direction, a main valve within said chamber mounted on said shaft and engageable with said main valve seat, a throat adjacent said main valve seat, a plurality of secondary valves mounted on said shaft above said main valve, said secondary valves being passable through said throat to limit the flow therethrough, said secondary valves being resistably slidable on said shaft, slidable valve stop means to limit the downward movement of said secondary valves through said throat, a movable fluid sealingmember mounted on said shaft adjacent the lower end thereof, resilient means urging said shaft in an upward direction, a check valve in said fluid sealing member permitting the passage of fluid from the lower portion of said chamber upon the downward movement of said fluid sealing member, a passage permitting fluid to enter the lower portion of said chamber and externally operable calibrated small valve means adapted to control the flow rate of fluid through said passage means, and particle settling basin means in said passage means up-stream from said small valve means.

5. A valve of the character described comprising a body, a chamber within said body, a main valve seat dividing said chamber into upper and lower portions, a fluid inlet passage leading into the lower portion of said chamber, a fluid outlet passage leading from the upper portion of said chamber, an axially movable shaft extending axially and centrally within said chamber and axially and centrally through said main valve seat and to the outside of said body, external means aflixed to said shaft to move said shaft in a downward direction, a main valve mounted on said shaft and engageable with said main valve seat, a throat passage adjacent said main valve seat, a plurality of secondary valves resistably and slidably mounted on said shaft above said main valve, slidable valve stop means to limit the downward movement of said secondary valves, a sealing and partitioning member within the lower portion of said chamber to seal the inlet passage from the lower end of the chamber, a movable pressure responsive member mounted on said shaft below said sealing member, a check valve in said movable pressure responsive member to permit the passage of fluid from the lower side to the upper side of said movable pressure responsive member, by-pass means to permit the passage of fluid from the upper side to the lower side of said movable pressure responsive member, resilient means interconnected with said shaft to urge said shaft in an upward direction, a fluid contained within said sealed chamber, and a control valve means adapted to control the flow rate of fluid through said by-pass means.

6. A valve of the character described comprising a body, a chamber within said body, a main valve seat adapted to divide said chamber into upper and lower portions, a main fluid inlet passage leading into said lower portion of said chamber, a main fluid outlet passage leading from said upper portion of said chamber, an axially movable shaft extending axially and centrally Within said chamber and axially and centrally through said main valve seat and through and to the outside of said housing body, external means affixed to said shaft to move said shaft in a downward first stroke direction, stop means to limit the downward movement of said shaft, resilient means interconnected With said shaft to urge said shaft in an upward second stroke direction, a main valve fixedly mounted on said shaft and positioned to seat on said main valve seat at the end of the second stroke, said seating of said main valve limiting the upward movement of said shaft, a movable fluid sealing member mounted on the lower portion of said shaft below said main valve, said fluid sealing member providing means to seal the inlet passage from the remainder of said lower portion of said chamber, a combination check valve and first auxiliary fluid passage adapted to permit the passage of fluid from the portion of said chamber below said fluid sealing member during the downward movement of said fluid sealing member, a second auxiliary fluid passage interconnecting the portions of said lower portion of said chamber above and below said movable fluid sealing member, a throat adjacent said main valve seat, a secondary valve movable within and without said throat and mounted on said shaft, said throat and said secondary valve having coacting surfaces and said secondary valve on said shaft being in spaced relationship with said throat such that during the end of and at the end of said shafts first stroke and during the beginning of and at the beginning of said shafts second stroke said secondary valve is within said throat and stops the flow of fluid therethrough and said secondary valve and said main valve are in spaced relationship on said shaft such that during a substantial majority of the two said strokes of said shaft that the said two valves do not restrict flow through said throat.

7. A valve as in claim 6 including an externally operable small valve means to control the flow rate of fluid through said second auxiliary passage.

8. A valve as in claim 6 including a particle settling basin in said second auxiliary passage.

9. A valve as in claim 6 including a second secondary valve movable through said throat and mounted on said shaft intermediate said first secondary and said main valves, said second secondary valve and said throat having coacting surfaces such that for a portion of said strokes during which the said second secondary valve is within said throat flow is prevented and said throat and the two said auxiliary valves are in spaced relationship such that during a part of the two of said strokes of said shaft said second secondary valve is within said throat and prevents the flow of fluid therethrough and during a successive part of said first stroke and a prior part of said second stroke the two said secondary valves straddle said throat and permit flow between the throat and each secondary valve.

10. A valve as in claim 6 including a plurality of additional secondary valves mounted on said shaft in similarly spaced and coacting relationship with the first secondary and additional secondary valves, main valve, throat and shaft.

11. A valve as in claim 10 wherein the plurality of secondary valves are resistably slidable on said shaft and including valve st-op means for said plurality of secondary valves to limit the downward and upward movements of said secondary valves upon the downward and upward movements correspondingly of said shaft.

12. A valve as in claim 6 including a partition within the upper portion of said chamber having a throat of the same diameter and on the same axis with said first throat and between which throats is a fluid by-pass space, said secondary throat and said secondary valve having coacting surfaces such that for a portion of said strokes of said shaft during which the said secondary valve is within said second throat flow is prevented, said throats, by-pass space and said secondary valve in spaced relationship such that during the passing of said secondary valve within each throat flow is prevented and during the passage of said secondary valve within the by-pass space flow is permitted.

13. A valve as in claim 6 including a third auxiliary fluid passage positioned to interconnect the portions of said chamber above and below said movable fluid sealing member only when said secondary valve is within said throat.

14. A valve as in claim 6 including a sealing and partitioning member within the lower portion of said chamber adapted to slidably seal said shaft intermediate the said movable fluid sealing member and said main valve and adapted to seal said lowermost portion of said chamber containing said movable fluid sealing member from said main fluid inlet passage thereby forming, a sealed chamber and a viscous fluid contained within said sealed chamber.

15. A valve as in claim 14 including an externally operable valve means to control the flow of fluid through said second auxiliary fluid passage.

16. A valve as inclaim 14 wherein said second auxiliary fluid passage passes through said movable pressure responsive member.

17. A valve as in claim 6 wherein said secondary valve is resistably slidable on said shaft and including :a valve stop for said secondary valve to limit the downward movement of said secondary valve upon the downward movement of said shaft and including a second valve stop means to limit the upward movement of said secondary valve upon the upward movement of said shaft.

18. A valve as in claim 17 including a second throat above said first throat, an annular by-pass space between said throats such that When said secondary valve is within said throats flow is stopped and between said throats in said annular by-pass space flow is permitted.

19. A valve of the character described comprising a body, a chamber within said body, a main valve seat dividing said chamber into upper and lower portions, a main fluid inlet passage leading into said lower portion of said chamber, a main fluid outlet passage leading from said upper portion of said chamber, an axially movable shaft extending axially through said main valve seat between the ends of and within said chamber and to the outside of said body, external means aflixed to said shaft to move said shaft in a downward direction, a main valve mounted on said shaft and engageable with said main valve seat, a sealing and partitioning member about said shaft within the lower portion of said chamber to seal the inlet passage from the lower portion of said chamber thereby forming a sealed chamber, a movable pressure responsive member mounted on said shaft below said sealing member, a check valve and first auxiliary fluid passage means in said movable pressure responsive member to permit the passage of fluid therethrough incident to the downward movement of said movable pressure responsive member, a second auxiliary fluid passage through said movable pressure responsive member to permit the passage of fluid to opposite sides thereof, independently operable valve means to control the flow of fluid through said second auxiliary fluid pas sage, resilient means interconnected with said shaft to urge said shaft in an upward direction, and a viscous fluid contained within said sealed chamber.

20. A valve as in claim 19 wherein said valve means in said second auxiliary fluid passage is infinitely adjustable between full off to full open and is externally operable.

21. In a flow timing device, the combination comprising a valve member having a flow passage therethrough with spaced inlet and outlet ports, valve means movable into an open position and a closed position to open and close said passage, respectively, to flow between said ports, means operatively associated with said valve means for causing a momentary pressure drop in the fluid leaving said flow passage during the period of movement of said valve means, and means connected to said valve means to move said valve means from said open position to said closed position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,937,929 12/1933 Williams 25154 X 2,528,822 11/1950 Dunn 251-54 2,845,092 7/1958 Vomacka 157-62418 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,972 1890 Great Britain.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner. ISADOR WEIL, Examiner.

G. ABRAHAM, A. COHAN, Assistant Examiners. 

21. IN A FLOW TIMING DEVICE, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A VALVE MEMBER HAVING A FLOW PASSAGE THERETHROUGH WITH SPACED INLET AND OUTLET PORTS, VALVE MEANS MOVABLE INTO AN OPEN POSITION AND A CLOSED POSITION TO OPEN AND CLOSE SAID PASSAGE, RESPECTIVELY, TO FLOW BETWEEN SAID PORTS, MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID VALVE MEANS FOR CAUSING A MOMENTARY PRESSURE DROP IN THE FLUID LEAVING SAID FLOW PASSAGE DURING THE PERIOD OF MOVEMENT OF SAID VALVE MEANS, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE MEANS TO MOVE SAID VALVE MEANS FROM SAID OPEN POSITION TO SAID CLOSED POSITION. 